2024 BEST FARMER FOR MAMPONG – ASHANTI
CALLS FOR SUBSIDY ON TRACTORS
The 2024 Municipal Best Farmer for Mampong, Mr. Adda Stephen has called on the government to subsidize the cost of tractors and make them affordable for farmers to facilitate farming activities and enhance food production.
Mr. Adda, a 36-year old Senior High School (SHS) graduate and father of three from Woraso made the appeal in his remarks after being crowned the 2024 Overall Best Farmer for the Mampong Municipality of the Ashanti region at the 40th National Farmers’ Day celebration held on Friday November 8, 2024, at Daaho near Mampong.
The Farmers’ Day was celebrated under the theme: “Building Climate-Resilient Agriculture for Sustainable Food Security”.
According to him, the cost of tractor services remain extremely high, a situation he described discourages farming. “We, farmers, use tractor for everything but many of us cannot afford the cost”. “We, therefore, want government to intervene and make it cheaper and more affordable to meet the pockets of ordinary farmers”, he said.
He applauded the government for supporting the Agric sector especially in the area of fertilizer subsidy and implementing other well-meaning Agric policies. He, however, urged the government to expand and extend the subsidy to cover tractor services.
The visibly exited newly crowned municipal best farmer also urged government to support farmers with realistic prices for their farm produce especially cereals and streamline its purchase particularly maize in similar way as cocoa to ensure fair price.
For his prize, he received a Tricycle popularly known as Aboboyaa,5 cutlasses,1 full piece of cloth,2 pair of Willington booths,1 Knapsack Spraying Machine,1 Big Torchlight, Radio Set 4 Liquid fertilizer among other things and a certificate for being the overall Best Farmer.
In all, 20 deserving farmers were recognized and rewarded with several items and products for their hard work and sacrifices throughout the year to ensure continuous food security and sustenance of the country. They included Mr. Kwadwo Tuffour from Adidwan who was awarded municipal best livestock, and ACP / Mr. Stephen Boadu, the Divisional Police Commander, who won the municipal best crop farmer category. Delivering his keynote address, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Mampong, Thomas Appiah Kubi assured that the Mampong Municipal Assembly would continue to support local farmers by expanding infrastructure for irrigation, constructing storage facilities and improving access to local and regional markets, so as to help reducing post-harvest losses and ensure that farmers at all times receive fair prices for their produce especially during the periods of climate-induced volatility.
Mampong MCE further said government recognizes the harsh effects of climate change and significant threats to Agriculture sector. In view of this, government has in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and other stakeholders provided farmers with development initiatives to empower farmers with adequate training and skills as well as advisory services to enable them to make informed decisions to manage climate risks and adjust their planting and harvesting schedules and help build a sustainable future.
In an address read on his behalf, the Municipal Director of Agriculture, Mr. Francis Osei Tutu, stressed the importance of the theme and said building climate-resilient agriculture is crucial for the sustainable food security in the country. He, therefore, urged farmers to judiciously employ sustainable strategies to reduce the impact of climate change to the food system.
Mr. Osei Tutu also advised farmers to implement farming practices like the use of organic manure, organic pesticides, grow climate-resilient crops.
He further encouraged farmers to rear disease resistance animals and adopt other strategies to enhance production, promote environmental conservation and reduce havoc of climate change on farming.
The event was chaired by Nana Yaw Dwubeng Yeboah, Daahohene who represented Daasebre Dr. Osei Bonsu II, Mamponghene and President of the Mampong Traditional Council, and it was attended by Nana Afrah Asantewaa, Daahohemaa and Nana Oduro Boahen, Abountemhene
Present at the occasion included the Municipal Co-ordinating Director (MCD), Mr. Mumuni Mohamed, Mr. Ebenezer Bannor, RTI Officer, and Mrs. Stella Owusu Appiah, wife of the MCE.
Others included the Presiding Member (PM), Daniel Oduro, the Mampong Constituency NPP Chairman, Mr. Luther Asare, heads of department and staff of the Mampong Municipal Assembly, nananom, security heads, Assembly members, farmers, the clergy, the general public and the media.
Story by:
Emmanuel Akwasi Wiafe-Boateng
Information Services Department, Mampong-Ashanti
